Global climate variations have intensified the transformation of salt lakes and saline-alkali playas in arid regions into major sources of saline-alkali dust storms, actively influencing atmospheric circulation and climate dynamics. This study focuses on two geographically close but environmentally distinct regions, the Qaidam Basin and the Alxa Plateau, situated on opposite sides of the Qilian Mountains. Surface salts were collected from both areas and analyzed for ion composition and sulfur isotope characteristics. Results reveal high concentrations of Na